Ball valve apparatus

ABSTRACT

A ball valve apparatus having a hollow housing in which a spherical valve member is rotatably received. The housing has fluid passages in each of which is axially movably disposed a retainer sleeve having its inner end face formed therein with an annular groove into which a seal ring is fitted for sealing engagement with the valve member. The retainer sleeve has an axially inwardly and radially outwardly inclined outer peripheral surface which cooperates with an inner surface portion of the housing to define an annular space which communicates with the corresponding fluid passage and in which an O-ring is received. The O-ring is radially outwardly and axially inwardly displaceable along the inclined outer surface of the retainer sleeve by the pressure within the fluid passage whereby the Oring is expanded to exert an increased axial inward biasing pressure force to the retainer sleeve.

Suyama [54] BALL VALVE APPARATUS l. [75] Inventor:

[73] Assignee: Kitamura Valve Mfg. Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan Aug. 17, 1972 Ryoji Suyama, Yono, Japan [22] Filed:

4[21] Appl. No.: 281,327

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data 2,483,891 l0/l949 Downey 251/l'I4X Primary Examiner--l-larold W. Weakley Attorney, Agent, or Frm-Spensley, Horn and Lubitz [57] ABSTRACT A ball valve apparatus having a hollow housing in which a spherical valve member is rotatably received.

The housing has fluid passages in each of which is axially movably disposed a retainer sleeve having its inner end face formed therein with an annuiar groove into which a seal ring is fitted for sealing engagement with the valve member. The retainer sleeve has an axially inwardly and radially outwardly inclined outer peripheral surface which cooperates with an inner surface portion of the housing to define an annular space which communicates'with the corresponding fluid passage and in which an O-ring is received. The O-ring is radially outwardly and axially inwardly displaceable along the inclined outer surface of the retainer sleeve by the pressure within the fluid passage whereby the O-ring is expanded to exert an increased axial inward biasing pressure force to the retainer sleeve.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures May 18, 1972 Japan 47-48543 [52] U.S. Cl 251/171, 251/172, 251/174,

l p 251/315 [51] int. Cl. lilk 5/06 [58] Field 61 Search ..251/170,171,172,174

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,378,026 4/1968 oliver ..1 251/172x 2,919,836 1/1960 Hurst 251/172 2,916,254 12/1959 wenden 251/172 3,346,234 10/1967 A11en 251/174 3,241,808 3/1966 Auen 251/172X 1o 33H,1s 34" ses 1415 1e 5o i BALL VALVE APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION SUMMARY OF THE-INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel ball valve apparatus which can be readily operated and which provides an improved fluid tig-ht seal against leakage.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a ball valve apparatus in which the increase in the fluid preasure results in the increase in the contact pressure between the sealing ring and the spherical valve member to thereto assure a uidti'ght seal therebetween.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a ball valve apparatus in which the fluid pressure is utilized to urge the sealing ring against the spherical valve member and to radially outwardly expand a resilient annular packing material andin which the axial force component of a force tending to reduce the increased diameter of the annular packing material is utilized to'further urge the sealing ring against the valve member.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an improved ball valve apparatus in which, when the fluid pressure within the chamber housing the spherical valve member exceeds a predetermined normal pressure level, the fluid is automatically allowed to escape from the chamber into the fluid passages.

The above objects of the invention are achieved by the ball valve apparatus of the invention which comprises a valve housing havingfluid passages formed therein, a spherical valve member rotatable to open and close the fluid passages, an annualar retainer member disposed within each of the fluid passages for axial movement with respect thereto, each passage and the corresponding retainer member defining a slight gap therebetween, each retainer member having a sealing means at the axial inner end thereof and a radially outwardly and axially inwardly extending inclined peripheral outer surface, the housing having a substantially cylindrical inner surface and a generally radially outwardly extending annular surface both disposed substantially in opposite relationship to the inclined outer surface of the retainer member to define an annular space therebetween, the substantially cylindrical inner surface having a diameter larger than the mean diameter at the annular contact area between the sealing means and the spherical outer surface of the valve member, and a resilient annular packing member disposed in the annular space to form a fluidtight seal between the housing and the retainer member.

. .2 The above and other objects, features and advantages ofthe present invention will be made more apparent by the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. l is an axial sectional view of an embodiment of the ball valve apparatus according to the presentv invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary axial sectional view of the ball valve apparatus illustrating a retainer sleeve and related parts of a housing when the fluid passage is not at a substantial pressure level.

FIG. 3 is a similar view but illustrating the valve parts when the fluid passage is at a substantial pressure level.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, there is shown an'embodiment of the ball valve apparatus according to the present invention. The apparatus includes a valve housing generally indicated at l0 and defining a substantially spherical chamber l l in which a substantially spherical or ball-like valve member 2@ having a through-hole 2l formed therein is received. The housing l0 is also provided therein with a pair of axially aligned fluid passages 12 and I3..

Adjacent the inner end of each of the fluid passages 12 and I3, there is provided within the housing l0 a first substantially cylindrical inner surface I4 radially outwardly o'set from the inner surface of each of the passages l2 and 13. A first radially outwardly and axially inwardly extending inclined annular surface l5 extends from the inner end of each of the first cylindrical inner surfaces M. From each of the first inclined annular surfaces l5 extends a second substantially cylindrical innersurface I6. From the axial inner end of each of the second cylindrical inner'surfaces I6 extends radially outwardly a first annular surface or shoulder ll? which is connected at the radial outer end to a third substantially cylindrical surface 18 which in turn is connected at Athe axial inner end to a second annular surface or shoulder 19 whichis connected to the substantially spherical inner surface of the chamber li. Thus, it'will be appreciated that the surfaces .114, l5, i6, I7, I8 and 19 cooperate together to form a boundary which connects the spherical inner surface of the chamber l1 with each'of the fluid passages 12 and I3.

Inwardly of the boundary between the chamber ll and each of the fluid passages 12 and I3 is disposed a sleeve-like retainer 30 having formed therein an axial passage of an inner diameter substantially equal to that of each of the fluid passages 12 and 13. Each retainer sleeve .30 is provided, adjacent the axial end thereof, with a first substantially cylindrical outer surface 3l which cooperates with the first cylindrical inner surface I4 of the housing l0 to form a slight annular gap therebetween.

From the axial inner end of the first cylindrical outer surface 3l extends radially outwardly and axially inwardly an inclined outer surface 32 which is substantially parallel with but axially inwardly spaced a distance from the inclined inner surface l5 of the housing l0. From the axial inner end of the inclined outer surface 32 extends axially inwardly a second substantially cylindrical outer surface 33 which is connected at the axial inner end to a radially outwardly extending annular surface or shoulder 34 which in turn is connected at the radial outer end to a third substantially cylindrical outer surface 35.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the retainer sleeve 30 advantageously has its axial inner end face formed therein with an annular groove 36 in which a sealing ring 37 of an appropriate hard material such as wear-resistant metal is disposed in sealing engagement with the spherical outer surface of the valve member 20. However, it will be apparent to anyone in the art that the sealing ring 37 may be integral with the retainer sleeve 30.

The arrangement is such that the mean diameter d at the annular area S of contact between each of the sealing rings 37 and the spherical outer surface of the valve member 20 is smaller than the inner diameter D of the second cylindrical inner surface 16 of the housing 10.

Within the annular space defined between the inclined inner surface 15 of the housing 10 and the inclined outer surface 32 of the retainer sleeve 30 is disposed an O-ring 40 which, in its free state, has a crosssection of a diameter larger than the distance between the inclined surfaces Y1 5 and 32. The QV- ijiigwmayqhave a reincorcing spring embedded therein.

An annular diaphragm spring 50 is disposed between the housing and the retainer sleeve 30 in such a manner that the outer peripheral edge portion of the spring 50 is engaged with the second shoulder 19 of the housing 10 while the inner peripheral edge portion of the spring50 is engaged with the shoulder 34 of the retainer sleeve 30 so that the latter is axially inwardly resiliently urged against spherical outer surface of the valve member 20.

With the afore-described construction, when the ball valve apparatusA of the present invention is not subjected to substantial fluid pressure of the fluid within the chamber 11 and the passages 12 and 13, the O-ring 40 is in contact, at a slight pressure force, with the inclined inner surface 15 of the housing 10 and with the inclined outer surface 32 and the substantially cylindrical outer surface 3lof the retainer sleeve 30. In this instance, the valve member is held in position by the sealing rings 37 under the pressure of the spring 50 only.` The pressure which is exerted upon the valve member 20 from the spring 50 is relatively small. For the reason, a small forcev will vbe sufficient to rotate the spherical valve member 20 with respect to the housing l@ for bringing the through-hole 21 into axial alignmerit with the passages 12 and 13.

When the fluid pressure with either the passage 1 2 or the passage 13 exceeds the fluid pressure within `the chamber 11, the corresponding sealing ring 37 will be urged against the spherical outer surface of the valve member 20 at a pressure force which will be represented by the following equation:

wherein F is the pressure force of the sealing ring 37 acting on the valve member 20; P, is the fluid pressure within one of the passages l2 and 13; Pc is the fluid pressure within the chamber l1; a is the axial inward biasing force of the spring 50. It will therefore be appreciated that the larger the fluid pressure (Pi) within the passage 12 or the passage 13 is, the larger the pressure force of the sealing ring 37 against the valve meman viiicreased diameter. Internally a force is created in the O- ring which desires to return the 0iing to its original diameter. This internal force-creates an external-foice which includes an axial force component which is operative to further urge the sealing ring 37 against the valve member 2h. Thus, when the fluid pressure (Pl) is increased, an axial biasing force due to the fluid pressure (Pl) and, in addition, an axial biasing force due to the axial displacement of the 0-i'ing 40 aexei'ted to thel retainer sleeve 30 so that the latter ias advanta geously and effectively urged into sealing engagement with the valve member 20.

If the fluid pressure (Pc) within the chamber lll should become larger than the fluid pressure (P1) due to an abnormal-situation, the force F represented by the above equationl is of a negative value. lf the absolute value of the negative force F exceeds the value a, the sealing ring 37 will be moved away off the spherical surface of the valve member 20 to cause the fluid to escape from the chamber 11 for thereby providing the valve apparatus of the invention with a relief feature. This provides an advantage that no extra relief valve is required. A

The present invention is not limited to the aforedescribed and illustrated embodiment of the invention hecause various modifications and changes may be made to the described and illustrated embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the radially outwardly and axially inwardly extending inclined surface 1S of the housing ,10 mayalternativeiy be a mere radially outwardly extending annular surface. Also, the 0-ring 40 may be replaced by any conventional resent annular packing or sealing material Moreover, the retainer sleeve 30 and the related por tions may have configurations and arrangements other than those afore-described and illustrated.

I claim: y

l. A ball valve apparatus comprising:

a. a valve housing having fluid passages formed thereon, said housing having a substantially spheriv cal chamber and defining a generally radially outwardly and axially inwardly inclined annular inner surface extending to each of said fluid passages;

b. a rotatable spherical valve member for opening and closing said fluid passages;

c. an annular retainer member disposed within each of said fluid passages for axial movement with respect thereto; each of said fluid passages and said corresponding retainer members defining a slight gap therebetween, said retainer member having a radially outwardly and axially'inwardly extending inclined peripheral outer surface disposed so as to define an annular space between said retaining member and said inner surface of said housing, and a sealing means at the axial inner end thereof;

d. a resilient annular packing member disposed in said annular space between said outer peripheral surface of said retainer member and said inner surface of said housing may be displaced by pressure changes in said fluid passage such that the diameter of said resilient memberis increased thereby, creating a force which urges said sealing means of said retainer member against said valve;A

wherein said radially outwardly and axially inwardly extending inclined annular inner surface of said housing is substantially parallel to said radially outwardly and axially inwardly extending inclined peripheral outer surface of said retainer member.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said radially outwardly and axially inwardly extending inclined peripheral outer surface of said retainer member has at least three annular shoulders, and said radially outwardly and axially inwardly extending annular inner surface of said valve housing has at least three annular shoulders disposed in relation to'said annular shoulders of said retainer member such that said resilient annular member, when disposed between said shoulders, will have a limited range within which said diameter may be exn panded.

3. The apparatus of claim l wherein an annular spring for resiliently axially inwardly biasing said sealing means of said retainer member against said valve member is disposed so as to engage said radially outwardly and axially inwardly inclined annular surface of said inner surface of said housing with said radially outwardly and axially inwardly inclined peripheral outer surface of said retainer member.

k 1li i Si( 

1. A ball valve apparatus comprising: a. a valve housing having fluid passages formed thereon, said housing having a substantially spherical chamber and defining a generally radially outwardly and axially inwardly inclined annular inner surface extending to each of said fluid passages; b. a rotatable spherical valve member for opening and closing said fluid passages; c. an annular retainer member disposed within each of said fluid passages for axial movement with respect thereto; each of said fluid passages and said corresponding retainer members defining a slight gap therebetween, said retainer member having a radially outwardly and axially inwardly extending inclined peripheral outer surface disposed so as to define an annular space between said retaining member and said inner surface of said housing, and a sealing means at the axial inner end thereof; d. a resilient annular packing member disposed in said annular space between said outer peripheral surface of said retainer member and said inner surface of said housing may be displaced by pressure changes in said fluid passage such that the diameter of said resilient member is increased thereby, creating a force which urges said sealing means of said retainer member against said valve; wherein said radially outwardly and axially inwardly extending inclined annular inner surface of said housing is substantially parallel to said radially outwardly and axially inwardly extending inclined peripheral outer surface of said retainer member.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said radially outwardly and axially inwardly extending inclined peripheral outer surface of said retainer member has at least three annular shoulders, and said radially outwardly and axially inwardly extending annular inner surface of said valve housing has at least three annular shoulders disposed in relation to said annular shoulders of said retainer member such that said resilient annular member, when disposed between said shoulders, will have a limited range within which said diameter may be expanded.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein an annular spring for resiliently axially inwardly biasing said sealing means of said retainer member against said valve member is disposed so as To engage said radially outwardly and axially inwardly inclined annular surface of said inner surface of said housing with said radially outwardly and axially inwardly inclined peripheral outer surface of said retainer member. 